Wind and highs just shy of 70 today. Tomorrow will bring storms and temperatures in the upper 60s.
A few details about the arrest and death of Freddie Gray trickled out yesterday. Charging documents obtained by the Sun revealed that Gray was originally pursued by police because he “fled unprovoked” when he saw them. When officers caught Gray and searched him, they found a knife in his pants and arrested him. The charging documents go on to say that Gray was arrested “without force or incident” (contrary to cell phone footage of the arrest that shows Gray pinned to the ground, then dragged to the van while screaming) and that he suffered a “medical emergency” while in the transport van.
In an afternoon press conference, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said the initial investigation into Gray’s death is ongoing, and will be concluded by the end of the month. The six officers involved in Gray’s arrest have been suspended with pay.
Officials are focusing on what happened in the van to sever Gray’s spine.
Friends and neighbors are remembering Freddie Gray as friendly, funny, and laid-back.
City councilperson Brandon Scott introduced a new bill that would require restaurants to post reasons when closed by health inspectors, and for the city to create an online database of closings. Right now, there’s nothing preventing a restaurant from concealing the reasons for a health closure.
CEO of the Maryland Transit Authority, Robert Smith, had his last day in the job on Friday. There’s been no explanation for Smith’s sudden departure. The MTA has been under heavy criticism for repeated mismanagement of funds and unreliable service.